Police make an arrest in Taylorsville home invasion, homicide

Jose M. Mendoza, 22, of West Valley City, was arrested Friday, Oct. 11, 2013, in connection with a home robbery in Taylorsville.

TAYLORSVILLE — A third man is still at large after police arrested a second man believed to be involved in Wednesday's home invasion that turned deadly for another man.

Nicholas Monte, 23, of South Salt Lake, was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound on Oct. 9. He has since died.

It was later discovered by police that Monte, along with Geno Alex Gonzalez, 22, Jose M. Mendoza, 22, and Alfred Gomez, 34, had intended to rob a homeowner near 5100 S. Applewood Drive for money and drugs that same night, according to Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal.

As the group entered the home, someone from inside the home shot Monte, Hoyal said.

A subsequent search of the home revealed a gun, drugs and drug paraphernalia, Hoyal said. The homeowner is cooperating with police, was not arrested, but is a suspect in the case, police said.

Gonzalez was previously arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of aggravated burglary and obstructing justice. Mendoza was arrested late Friday and booked into jail for investigation of the same crimes, Hoyal said.

Police are still looking for Gomez. Anyone with information of his whereabouts is asked to call the Unified Police Department at 801-743-5844.